News of the revival of the fan-created, 2000 AD-inspired, small press anthology Zarjaz this week. Full details of this new era for the comic below.
This September sees the relaunch of ZARJAZ, the acclaimed 2000AD based independent comic. Kicking things off is the 116 page ZARJAZ SCI FI SPECIAL 2024, an A4 sized compendium of stories featuring an array of characters from the early years of 2000AD. This issue will be published towards the end of September but is available immediately for pre-sales.
ZARJAZ was profiled in the September dated issue of the JUDGE DREDD MEGAZINE, with accolades from a range of professional creators who first cut their teeth within its pages. For over 20 years ZARJAZ has proved to be a successful training ground for writers and artists to hone their talents and build their reputations.
Its Editor, Andrew Lewis, was the original creator of ZARJAZ back in 2002. He returns to the comic’s helm determined to ensure it delivers first rate story-telling and professional quality artwork.
The VCs by Craig Dawson and Brett Burbridge
He says, “I have assembled an exciting team of contributors with varying degrees of experience, but with unparalleled passion for developing their craft. I have worked closely with each writer and artist, pushing them to create a publication that packs punch after punch, story after story. I’ve insisted on compressed, tight scripting and high impact visuals. I’ve kicked out any scripts where it takes a whole page for a character to walk into a room and another for them to sit down!
“I decided from the start to limit ZARJAZ to the early years of 2000AD. There may be some exceptions as we go along, but in the first instance we’re focusing very much on the first five years or so. But I’ve encouraged writers to think outside the box, to write stories about obscure characters, to do team-ups, alternative versions, parodies. One other limitation: I had to put a ban right away on pitches featuring Judge Dredd. This might sound intentionally perverse, but if I hadn’t I’d have been completely inundated with stories about Old Stoney Face.
Walter the Wobot by Leo Healy and Paul Malone
“Rest assured, Judge Anderson and quite a few other characters from the world of Mega-City 1 will be appearing in the relaunch edition. And there’s a whole series of Dredd stories already being developed for future issues. There’s also another special issue planned which will be completely dedicated to my favorite Dredd epic: ‘The Judge Child’.
“And all the other favourites are present and correct too: Strontium Dog, Rogue Trooper, Robo-Hunter, The VCs, MACH 1, Nemesis the Warlock. We’re also reviving some very obscure characters I’m sure fans will enjoy meeting again. And we’ve also hidden plenty of Easter eggs throughout the issue for you to have fun finding. The greatest compliment will be if readers comment that it’ll remind them of reading 2000AD as kids.
Robo-Hunter by Michael Crouch and Rob Anthony
“If you’re a fan of a certain age, those first few years of 2000AD represent something magical and incredible in your life: those years of innocent enjoyment of blisteringly exciting stories and incredible, mesmerising art that consumed your whole life before boring things like exams and jobs and mortgages took over. And ZARJAZ is going to be centred on those early issues, what many consider the Golden Age of 2000AD. But, while its heart is very much in the past, it’s not going to be a dewy-eyed nostalgia fest. Its mind, its sensibilities, its raison d’etre are all firmly rooted in the present. There is so much ignorance and injustice to rage against in our modern world and I make no apology that ZARJAZ will very much respond to topical issues and events.
Strontium Dog by Tom Davies and Bob Brice
“If you’re a writer or artist who would like to be involved in subsequent issues then you can email me at zarjazvol3@gmail.com and request the Submissions Guidelines. If you’ve had any work already published in the small press (or even professionally) it’s a good idea to include examples. There’s quite a strict submissions process and you’ll have to offer something pretty special to grab my attention. It’s not easy breaking in to comics writing or illustration, I know this from my own personal experience. I had to submit dozens of pitches to 2000AD before being accepted. But it’s not a process that suits everyone. I think it’s important that would-be writers and artists are treated as they would be by a professional editor. That way they’ll stand a better chance of making it into 2000AD one day– provided they’re good enough of course. It’s very easy these days to self-publish online or even on paper, but nothing sorts out the wannabes from the going-to-bes better than getting to compromise and collaborate with an editor and other creators.”
HOW TO BUY ZARJAZ
In order to comply with Rebellion’s policies regarding their properties ZARJAZ is produced on a not-for-profit basis, which means that we can sell it more cheaply than other small-press projects. But it also means we can’t use KickStarter, which these days seems to be the most common means of being able to generate what’s needed to finance publication. Instead we’re offering pre-orders and that will allow us to determine the volume of the print-run. Simply put, you will need to make an online reservation to guarantee your copy. ZARJAZ can be delivered anywhere in the world.
